Electronic sewing machine

Abstract

A control circuit is provided in an electronic sewing machine wherein a specific stitch pattern is selected from a plurality of stitch patterns stored in an electronic memory, by selection of a corresponding pattern number which is then indicated at a digital indicator arranged on a front panel of the machine housing. A possible incomplete or incorrect selection of a pattern number will cause the selected pattern number indicated at the digital indicator to blink, thus giving a cautionary notice to the machine operator and, at the same time, will cause the sewing machine to stop from further stitching operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic sewing machine comprising, an electronic memory for storing stitch control data for a plurality of stitch patterns to be selectively and sequentially read out, to control the formation of a selected pattern by the sewing machine, each of said plurality of stitch patterns corresponding to a different pattern number to be indicated upon selection of a pattern by an operator;   selecting means for selecting a stitch pattern by designation of a pattern number, said selecting means including a plurality of operating switches;   digital indicator means for indicating said pattern number in the form of two digits when selected by operation of said operating switches of said selecting means;   discriminator means for detecting if said selected pattern number corresponds to a stitch pattern the control data for which is stored in said electronic memory, and for producing either an affirmative or a negative signal according to the detection result;   stitch control means coupled to said discriminator means and responsive to said affirmative signal, for controlling needle lateral amplitude and fabric feed amount in accordance with the selected pattern; and   safety means coupled to said discriminator means, said digital indicator means and said stitch control means, and responsive to said negative signal to cause said digital indicator means to make a cautionary operation, and to cause said stitch control means to remain inoperative.   
     
     
       2. An electronic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said safety means is arranged to cause the pattern number indicated by said digital indicator means to blink in response to the negative signal from said discriminator means. 
     
     
       3. An electronic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes 10 operating switches. 
     
     
       4. An electronic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means is arranged so that two of said operating switches must be operated successively for selection of a pattern number. 
     
     
       5. An electronic sewing machine according to claim 4, wherein said selecting means is arranged so that after a first operation of one of said operating switches, a corresponding digit is displayed at one part of said indicator means, and a space bar is caused to be displayed and blinked at another part of said indicator means until a second operation of one of said operating switches.